Thrift...For Your Wallets Sake

Since I've rediscovered my love for thrifting and rekindled my talent for finding the fashion needle in the uninspiring haystack. I've been trying fruitlessly, to encourage my fashion forward girlfriends to join me, and what I got what this…

Aren't you worried someone will consider you CHEAP?!

Cheap? CHEAP?! I don't know if they've been looking at the news, reading the papers, checking their bank accounts or empty gas tanks. But, the economy isn't in a better place. Gas is going up, along with food,
clothing, electronics, and anything that's driven by a big gas guzzling truck.

So in the spirit of being frugal, economical, prudent, cheap…and parsimonious (;-)), here are my top five list of why it's important to thrift:

Thrift Store Prices Don't Change with the Price of Gas or Oil…YAY!!!
Because people donate goods sold in thrift stores are sifted through by volunteers. Since there's no one on the payroll, prices don't have the gas or labor tied to them.

No Coupon, Text Message or Code Needed to Enjoy Discounts
Most thrift stores, like my favorites Community Aid and Salvation Army, offer 50% off every day (depending on the designated tag color). And of course there's Wacky Wednesday where the entire store is half-off, except collectables or extremely new items.

Thrift Stores Change with the Seasons
People have to remember, thrift stores are still retailers. They know you're most likely not going to buy a $2.99 cable knit sweater instead of a lace cami in the beginning of summer. Thrift stores are marketing to you the consumer, just like any other store. So when you come in that sweater will be rows away, while the tanks and shorts will be some of the first rows you see.

Access to VERY Deeply Discounted Vintage Items
Thrift stores are a fantastic way to add individual style to your wardrobe and set yourself apart. No one is going to style pieces you buy the same way. Especially if you deliberately, but successfully, search for brands
that don't exist anymore, like me!

Thrift Stores are Inspirational
You may be surrounded by odd smells and you may sneeze every time you shift a hanger, but for those of us who don't live in New York, Boston, Philadelphia or some other metropolitan city, we need inspiration! Take the items below...

The dress is imply 70s; what some call a Midi (not really full-length, not short, just in the middle).  It fits perfectly at the smallest part of my waist and flares out at the bottom.  As soon as I saw this, I stood in awe. I pictured this cool rosie color against my milk chocolate skin and I thought, rose bush. I needed something green…leafy green so I when I found this cloisonné necklace I knew my vision was meant to be.

After those two significant purchases, everything else fell into place easily. The earrings were free, something I found in my mother's jewelry box, the cognac belt from Goodwill broke up the dress and the cognac wedges complimented everything nicely. What a pretty rose bush I made!

As always…Keep on Thrifting!!!

Thriftily Outfitted: Week 1

Hello fabbies! I may have topped myself already!

I've been so excited to share what I've styled for this week, but I held off so I can try something new. Instead of rushing a "outfit of the day" post everyday, I'll be posting them once a week. It will save me time, allow for thought provoking and visually pleasing content, and the addition of more articles about my thrifting adventures.
The Thrifty Run-Down
What we have in this weeks collection...Monday: red and white animal print skirt and frilly 50s inspired sweater.  Tuesday: a gauzy, semi-sheer pink blouse paired with a nautical skirt for a look made for the 70s.  Wednesday: a peridot green dress from a big name brand that has a drop waist and soft polo collar that screams 20s and...Thursday: a navy mini polka-dotted skirt from the 90s coupled with a blouse from the 80s!

Main Attraction
My gams! (FYI: Retro speak for legs. ;D) I can't get enough of them, and working at a conservative and fashion illiterate environment won't ever stop me.

Red, White and Cute All Over

1970s Thrift Done Right

Green with Thrift Envy

Button me Up and call me Thrifty

Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear from my readers. Enjoy!!!



Thrifty Date Night

I've always been the type of woman to take the "bull by the horns," but never until this week did I ask a guy out on a date!  He's super shy, so I figured dinner at low-key and laid back diner was the way to go, and a movie afterward. 

Shy guy+simple date=FLORALS!!!  I had to keep the outfit floral, shapely, and flirty.  Starting from top to bottom:

This floral shirt has a cream background with red blossoms and brown leaves all over.  It's light polyester fabric, long sleves and colors make it easy to wear this fall too.  ;)

Brand: College Town - $1.49 (Salvation Army)

I had to pick up the red blossoms with this scarlett red and brown leather purse.  The brand is called Leaders in Leather, from Paraguay, and they hand etch all of their goods.  

Brand: Leaders in Leather - $1.99 (Community Aid)

I found these precious cloisonne earrings in my mothers jewelry box and I always passed them up for hoops, dangly earrings or other accessories that I was used to wearing.  These earrings perfectly match my outfit, without trying.  They're delicate and perfect for spring.

Cloisonne earrings (Free)

I snagged this bracelet on one of my "Thrifty Inspiration" trips to my favorite stores...in other words, I didn't mean to buy this bracelet, but it wanted me to.  What kind of thrifty fashionista would I be if I didn't take this dear home?  ;)

Peachy Pearl Bracelet: $.99 Salvation Army

This outfit was everything I've been trying to do for my Spring thrift collection.  It was light, airy, form fitting and had plenty of texture.  It's everything I'm trying to do for Spring.  It was perfect...And hopefully lucky!  ;)

Til next time...Happy Thrifting!!!

Confessions of a Thriftaholic: Blaming It on Being Single

Just because it's a $1, it doesn't mean you should buy it.

That should be my mantra when thrift shopping. 

 I will admit it.  I, Shelby, am a shopaholic. Being real with myself has me trying to figure out why.  Since there could be several reasons,  I'll spare everyone a lengthy blog post!

First: Single People Shop More

Yes, yes we do.  Admit it.  If you are or when you were single you had more "you" time. And what did it look like? Something like this:

• 5:00 PMT - Change for the gym
• 5:30 PMT - Kickboxing class
• 5:45 PMT - Hypothicizing possible date outfits
• 6:00 PMT - Realize that you are missing a certain something for the possible date
• 6:30 PMT - Rush home to change...thrift store run in "need"!!!
• 7:45 PMT - Walk out of the thrift store with about 5 certain somethings that you never really needed in the first place and none of them work for your "possible" date outfit
• 7:50 PMT - Justify thrift purchases until your buyers remorse goes away

How do I know?  Because this was me yesterday!  But, I don't have remorse about a single purchase! You wouldn't either if you bought all of these thrifty beauties!

Cobalt Blue Kind of Day

Filing never looked so fashionable! 

The Run-Down: 
Blue and Tan Stripped combo top from Ross - $9.99
Cognac Braided Belt from Goodwill - $2.99
Cobalt Blue skirt from Salvation Army - $1.50
White cut-out flats from Goodwill - $4.95

Can You Dig This Bunny At Her Gig?

Can you dig the mixture of pulsating color and retro texture?  Can you dig the A line dress that is neither too long nor too short…it’s just right?  Can you dig this assemble created by this blossoming thrift stylist/blogger?

I definitely did! When I finally gathered the pieces to this ensemble, I felt like a transfixed suburbanite transformed into a little caposhi dudette (=cool chick). At least that’s how I felt yesterday. What makes it even better, it’s my 1st all thrifted outfit!

The dress is an authentic vintage piece of 70s history. And, even more rare, it’s in perfect condition! I didn’t have to mend a single stitch. I wish I could tell you the brand, but the “label” (a piece of ribbon stitched with the brand) is curled up from old age. But, the Union Made tag is in-tact. It’s a vibrant Cerise (thanks Neckties.com) and looks as if it was dyed yesterday, with a cloth belt in the same color.

I paired it with light brown sugar colored leather and cork wedges (Community Aid -$4.50), a cute but basic addition. The cognac braided belt (Goodwill -$2) adds some texture, draws attention to the smallest part of my waist, and breaks up the dresses strong color.

The faux jade necklace (Salvation Army -$3.99) is my 2nd favorite thrifted piece and my wild card. It doesn’t seem like it would be matched, but if you take a closer look the “jade” is intermingled with a heavy white bead, etched in gold rose that is painted in with such a close shade of Cerise that it makes the necklace an unpredictable, but obvious choice.
Til I catch you on the thrifty flip-side…Happy Thrifting!!!

Dandelion Wishes and Cerulean Blue Dreams

I needed to wear this outfit today.  It was the perfect Moody Monday buster.

From the simple white cotton t-shirt, the frilly navy blue top, blue flowered patterned skirt, burgandy belt to call attention to my small waist and cognac brown wedges serve as the perfect neutral.

But let's focus on my favorite item, the skirt,for a moment.  It was thrifted for $1.50, circa early 90s, perfect condition; polyester-cotton blend with a slight sheen.

It reminds me of my childhood summers lying on green crab grass, making numerous dandelion wishes to the cerulean blue sky.  The skirt is my childhood, made perfectly for my adulthood.

My Holy Trinity of Thrift Stores

If you love to shop like me, then you know that shopping for authentic, mint-condition vintage is work!

Coordinating your wardrobe and transforming your closet to accommodate your evolving taste in clothes, shoes and accessories isn’t easy and you have to be prepared.  I mean the kind of preparaed that takes packing food in your car, also some baby wipes and hand sanitizer in your cross-body satchel!

I'm a Thrift Road Warrior, with only three stores to choose from...My Thrifty Holy Trinity are so reliable and easy on my wallet...I would lay my right hand on the Bible and swear by them!  Here’s a nice run down of my loves:

• Community Aid
It has everything a thrift store should: easily accessible location, big parking lot, 50% off sales almost  every day, large quantities of gently discounted but high quality goods…and the best Wacky Wednesday in town.

I’ve garnered the most inspiration, clothes and shoes from this one store. There’s never a day when I go to “browse,” that I don’t find some piece that would suit my flourishing throwback Spring wardrobe perfectly.  Just this last Wednesday I acquired these lovelies...

Authentic 70s Party Dress for $1.00...AND it's in perfect condition

Cream Floral Blouse from Foxcroft for $1.50

Sheer Black and White Blouse from H&M - $2.00



Sheer Cream Blouse for $1.50

•Salvation Army

The second most important store to me is the Salvation Army that’s 2 miles away from my abode. It’s filled with goodies as soon as you enter and it’s the place where if I go looking for something specific whether it be a brown braided belt, cross-body satchel or floral skirt, I will go home victorious.

And, not only does it have the second largest amount of skirts and dresses out of the three, it carries accessories that aren’t locked behind a glass case.

Faux Jade and Flower - $3.99

• Goodwill

It’s half the size of the other three stores in the area, there isn’t much in this store and the prices are close to co-signment store prices than a thrift store.  But, what my local Goodwill lacks quantity and low prices, it makes up with the quality of clothes and accessories.  Even though...I have nothing spectacular to share with all of you...nothing has been worth me buying.  Wah.  :(

But I have one gripe...Now I understand that thrift stores can only offer the quality and quantity that's donated. And, Goodwill has better stock thanks to partnerships with stores like Target, Gap and the Bon-Ton (department stores) for items that wouldn’t sell, unlike the other thrift stores. But, that doesn’t mean the prices should reflect that. The whole point of a thrift store is to offer deep discounts to reel in consumers and the proceeds go to charity.  If you want people to come in, you offer deep discounts, with additional percentages off without having to buy a discount card.

BlogThis!

Ladies and Gentlemen...Welcome Aboard!

I meant to go nautical and went flight attendent instead yesterday.  Overall, I'm proud of the ensemble.  It's quite charming and interchangeable!   I plan to wear the shirt with dark denim jeggings, snake skin open-toed flats and something in Cobalt blue (one of summers hot colors) will brighten it up. 

Skirt: Community Aid - $1.50
Shirt - Community Aid - $1.50
Shoes - Nine West
Jewelry - Old Navy

I also shared this with my Trimirror app buddies who adored it.  Too bad I don't have a better camera so you can see how chic and expensive this outfit looks!  Ohhhh well!  On to my next post, til then....Happy Thrifting!